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Catalyst fund

WebsiteLinkedInTwittercbCrunchbase
Status
ACTIVE
Global HQ
Nairobi, Kenya
Countries of investment
  • Nigeria
  • Kenya
  • Egypt
  • Tanzania
  • Senegal
  • Morocco
  • Uganda
  • Rwanda
Investment stages
  • Pre-Seed
  • Seed
Industries
  • Climate Adaptation
  • ClimateTech
  • AgTech
  • Insurtech
  • Climate Fintech
  • Agroforestry
  • Cold Chain
  • Waste Management
  • Sustainable Energy
  • Water Management
  • Food Systems
  • MSME Finance
About
Catalyst Fund is a Nairobi-based venture capital firm focused on partnering with founders building climate adaptation and resilience solutions in Africa. Their focus spans AgTech, insurtech, climate fintech, sustainable energy, and water management across Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, Ghana, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, Egypt, Senegal, Ivory Coast, and Ethiopia. The firm supports climate resilience founders from pre-seed through seed stages.
Min check size
$100K
Max check size
$500K
Fund size
NPS

Investment Thesis

Catalyst Fund is a pre-seed and seed stage venture capital firm deploying capital across climate adaptation, resilience, AgTech, insurtech, climate fintech, agroforestry, cold chain, waste management, sustainable energy, and water management sectors. They invest $200K in pre-seed African startups with follow-on capital at seed and Series A, combining catalytic grant capital with hands-on venture-building support from seasoned operators. The firm differentiates itself as a specialist impact VC for African climate adaptation with 61 portfolio companies achieving $800M+ follow-on funding, one unicorn, and five exits.
Lead investor
Co Invest
Number of exits
Preferred contact method

Manager's Experience

Founded in 2015 as a global accelerator managed by BFA Global, targeting early-stage inclusive fintech startups. Fund is managed by Maelis Carraro (Managing Partner) with a team of investors and operators including Karen Serem Waithaka (Chief Investment Officer), Sydney Thiam (Venture Building Lead), and Mike (venture builder). Original inaugural fund supported by Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and JPMorgan Chase & Co., fiscally sponsored by Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, backing 20 startups across 15 emerging markets. Second accelerator (2019) supported by UK Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), PayPal, and Mastercard Foundation, backing 36 additional inclusive tech startups. Between 2015-2022, Catalyst Fund supported 61 companies across 15 emerging markets. Portfolio raised over $800M in follow-on funding, produced one unicorn and five successful exits, and reaches 14M+ underserved individuals and MSMEs globally. Current Climate Resilience fund targeting 40 climate adaptation ventures across Africa.

Catalyst fund Contacts Information

Primary contact

Secondary contact

Team

Maelis Carraro - Managing Partner

Karen Serem Waithaka - Chief Investment Officer

Sydney Thiam - Venture Building Lead

Mike - Venture Builder

Portfolio

Agrails

Keep IT Cool

Octavia Carbon

Farm to Feed

Agro Supply

OKOA

Biobuu

Medikea

Mazao Hub

The Awareness Company

Thola

Enakl

Sand to Green

Biochar Industrial Group

Swap

Powerlabs

Zebra Cropbank

Scrapays

Earthbond

Farmz2U

Paddy Cover

Eight Medical

NoorNation

VAIS

Bekia

Tolbi

Assuraf

Oko

Chipper Cash

Cowrywise

Wasoko

Turaco

Koa

Kwara

Lami

WellaHealth

Kudigo

Boost Ghana

Tendo

Shopa

Swoove

ColdHubs

Oze

TopUp Mama

Aquarech

Tulix

HealthDart

Ziada

Jetstream

Power

Kandua

Indicina

Flex Finance

Paymenow

Pesakit

Hover

Spoon

Meerkat

LEAF

Asaak

Abalobi

MobiLife

SmileID

PayGo

Atikus

Flowigo

WorldCover

Bamba

Mujer Financiera

Koltin

Verqor

MangoLife

Grao

Zippi

Banco Maré

ToGarantido

Escala

Destacame

Graviti

OHM Mobility

Pocketfin

KarmaLife

FarMart

Salutat

PayAgri

Rukula

PayLatr

Harvesting

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